The transport sector accounts for 23% of energy-related emissions, which is around 14% of all emissions. Project Drawdown has identified 11 of the most impactful transport-sector solutionsfor reducing emissions. These include less fuel-intensive shipping, airplanes and trucks, increased use of hybrid cars, electric bikes, electric vehicles, electric trains, mass transit, high-speed rail, and ridesharing, as well as telepresence.

In the second of seven Drawdown sector summits, participants learned more about the transport sector solutions identified and modelled by Project Drawdown. Then they heard from Toronto experts who are making change with transport solutions at the individual, corporate and government level:

Tim Grant – Green Party of Ontario transportation critic

Tomislav Svoboda, MD PhD – Active transport advocate

Hamish Wilson – Cycling activist

Isabelle Boulard – CarpoolWorld

Kamilla Petrick – TTCriders

John Filion – Toronto city councillor

Toward the end of the evening, they met in three groups to built a long and local vision for accelerating transport sector solutions in Toronto to their fullest potential and to make offers and requests to help move forward transport solutions in Toronto and reverse our greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Below you'll find notes from the discussion groups:

1. MUNICIPAL ACTION What’s happening now?

Dominance of the suburbs

Municipal election

Mini (Super)PACS

Can raise up to $25K each

Corporate donations are OK

Commercial interest groups

More involved than public interest groups

Some of their names sound like they are in the public interest

“Non-political” or “Non-partisan”

How could we get engaged?

Volunteer for local campaigns

Identify high-leverage seats to influence

Willowdale

Progress Toronto

Do this with other people – Make it fun

Get involved in the mayoral campaign

Form a PAC?

For non-candidates

A climate PAC

Change the mind set—Have a “spiritual side”

A values-based PAC…a vision

​Become identified as a “Climate Voter”

​2. Improving mass transit in the GTAInterests:

Transit is a key equity issue

Parking costs—do the math!

Free transit

Faster transit

​What is happening in the GTA:

2-hour transfer

Under 12 travel free

“Fair fare coalition” – Discounts

Community bus program (to get to common destinations)

Uber pod – not so great

Too many cars

​King Streetcar Pilot

Possible actions:

Express bus network

Fund (attach $) to the relief line

Advocacy

Return the tax exemption for fares (for cross-jurisdiction transfers)

Pay an extra fare for a bike

“Bus n’ Bike” – Dedicated bus for just bikes

Equip all buses with a bike rack (do it!)

More accessibility for special needs

How to get more mass transit, 1st mile / last mile efficiency in the suburbs

Couple free/discounted TTC with free entrance to venues

Tax break for leaving car at home

Road tolls

BIA initiatives

Employer subsidy of TTC passes

​​Take action

Join/help TTCRiders.ca

Support “free transit day” (sponsored by a corporate donor, as on New Year’s Eve)

Read lemming5 blog (climate change and automobiles)

May 23 day of Action – TTCRiders

June: book launch about free transit

3. ACCESSIBLE, SAFE CYCLING IN THE GTAWhat is happening in the GTA now?